Way Back Wednesday - 2001

The Chicagoland Speedway, where NASCAR competes this weekend, was opened in 2001. We'll throw it back to 2001 in this article.

2001 Prices In The U.S.

Average Cost of new house $136,150.00 

Average Median Income $42,350.00 

Average Monthly Rent $715.00 

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.46 

Average cost of new car $25,850.00 

US Postage Stamp 34 cents 

1 LB of Bacon $3.22 

Ground Coffee per LB. $3.06 

Loaf of Bread $1.82 

Dozen Eggs 90 cents 

2001 NASCAR 

Jeff Gordon Won the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship

Dale Earnhardt Sr. killed in a last lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500

37 Races Total

Chevrolet Won Manufactures Championship

Jimmie Johnson made NASCAR Winston Cup Debut

Kevin Harvick Won Rookie Of The Year

The NASCAR News Source Top 10 - Best Racing Related Movies

Racing and Hollywood have always had a connection and below I will highlight the top 10 best racing movies!

10. Talladega Nights

Talladega Nights was a movie about a driver who just refused to lose. If it had the same storyline with a serious instead of comedy look to it it might be a little higher on the list. Its a good movie with a lot of funny parts to it.

9. Stroker Ace

One of the oldest movies on this list Had Burt Reynolds (Stroker Ace) moving to a new team with a sponsor that made him the fastest chicken in the south. It's a funny movie and has the normal Burt Reynolds humor.

8. Speed Racer

As a kid I watched Replays of the TV show on Nick Gas but it was discontinued in 2007. It made me wonder about the series because I really Liked the TV Shows. In 2008 Speed Racer came out and explained all the wonder I had left from when the Show was taken off. It was actually a very good movie.

7. NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season In Review

In 2002 and 2003 NASCAR Images had a Season In Review on DVD. It had all of the action from that year and recapped the MONUMENTAL events that happened that season.  

6. Kart Racer

A movie about son of a legendary engine building pursuing a Kart Racing career! Randy Quaid was also in another movie further up on the list that was pretty popular with NASCAR Fans.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Any Given Day

This is another great NASCAR Images Production highlighting NASCAR's Most Popular Driver and how he takes each day and talks about how stressful Driver Appearances can get. The Soundtrack is also very awesome! 

4. NASCAR 3D

I remember going to the near IMAX Theater and seeing this movie with my mom and dad! It really condenses all of the History, About, etc. into one movie!

3. Driven

True this is not a NASCAR movie but it is truly one of my favorite movies. The story, the soundtrack and the cast truly add up to make this one of the best. If you haven't seen it go to your local used movie stores and you can normally find it for under 2 dollars. Truly cheap entertainment!

2.  The Number 2 Car - Rusty Wallace

This movie Highlights the 2001 Season for Rusty Wallace. It's where I really learned I want to work for NASCAR. It highlights his win at California, The Death Of Dale Earnhardt, and a few other major storylines from the 2001 season.

1. Days Of Thunder

Truly The Greatest NASCAR Movie ever! This movie has numerous series events and numerous funny ones also. Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, and that guy named Randy Quaid really make this a great movie.

Meet and Greet With Drivers - Chicagoland Edition

The Chase Begins This Sunday! Do you want to show your driver your support for his nation? Do you just want to say you have met a NASCAR Driver? Well check below and you'll see where to go! 

Driver Appearences

Ryan Blaney is scheduled to appear at Discount Tire in Joliet, IL on Thursday, September 17 at 2:30 PM. It is located at 2845 Plainfield Rd.Discount Tire appearance.

Justin Allgaier is scheduled to appear at Dave's Supermarket in Fairbury, IL on Thursday, September 17 at 5:30 PM. It is located at 120 S 3rd St.

Alex Bowman is scheduled to appear at Jewel Osco in Shorewood, IL on Thursday, September 17 at 5:30 PM. It is located at 199 Brook Forest Ave.

Danica Patrick is scheduled to appear at the Studio XFINITY at the Chase Fest in Chicago, IL on Thursday, September 17, from 5:30 to 6:15 PM.

The event will take place on Weed Street, between Fremont and Kingsbury.

 

The 16 Chase Challengers are scheduled to appear at the Chase Fest in Chicago, IL on Thursday, September 17. The event is scheduled to run from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM. NASCAR America will air live from the event with Krista Voda conducting driver interviews with the Chase drivers from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. 

Kevin Harvick, David Starr, Derrike Cope, and Eric McClure are scheduled to appear at Race Fan Rally in Joliet, IL on Thursday, September 17. The event is scheduled from 4:00 to 10:00 PM. Includes show cars, driver appearances, raffles, etc.  

Brian Scott is scheduled to appear at Jewel Osco in Joliet, IL on Saturday, September 19 at 9:30 AM. It is located at 1537 N. Larkin Ave

Chattanooga Lookouts Clinch North Division Title!

The Chattanooga Lookouts, affiliates of the Minnesota Twins and my local team, are headed for their second straight Championship Appearance! Last Year the Lookouts faced the Jacksonville Suns and fell short of the championship. This year the lookouts will look to win their first Southern League Title since 1988 and They Need Your Support! If you live near either the Biloxi Shuckers or Chattanooga Lookouts stadiums please go support the Lookouts! They will be in Biloxi for games 1 & 2 on Wednesday and Thursday then travel to Chattanooga for game 3 and Games 4 and 5 if necessary. Tickets for games 1 and 2 can be purchased via the Biloxi Shuckers website and games 3,4, and 5 will be available via the Chattanooga Lookouts Website!

RED OUT

Bristol Motor Speedway had a Black Out earlier this season now lets try a Red Out! Red Is one of the Chattanooga Lookouts main colors and we need to red out the stadium! Wear your Red Football Shirt, Red Dale Jr Shirt any red Shirt Will Do! 

NOT NASCAR RELATED JUST SOMETHING I'D LOVE TO SEE! A FULL HOUSE AT A LOCAL BASEBALL TEAM!